Steam-generator.



G. E. WHITNEY. STEAM GENERATOR. APPLIGATIQN FILED AUG.13.1903.

1,032,459. Patented July 16, 1912.

Z SHEBTS'SHBET 1v lnvenior,

I E. WHITNEY.

STEAM GENERATOR.

'APILIOATION FILED AUG. 12, 1903.

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GEORGE E. WHITNEY, 0F BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASISIGNOR, BY 'MEsNE ASSIGN- MEN'IS, TO THE WHITE COMPANY, OF

CLEVELAND, OHIO.

STEAM-GENERATOR.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. lVmTNnY,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of F airfield, State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Steam-Generators, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to steam or vapor generating systems or apparatus of the type wherein the water or liquid is fed from its source to the generator under pressure maintained automaticallyby gas or vapor returned to the source from the generator. An apparatus of this type is represented by U. S. patent to Willis Mitchell, No. 675,862, dated June 4, 1901.

My invention aims to improve the citiciency and working of apparatus or systems of this type, and will best be understood from a description of a specific embodiment of said invention, such, for instance, that illustrated in the accompanying drawings,-

Figure 1, in diagrammatic, partially sectional view illustrates one embodimentof my invention; and, Fig. 2, a view illustrating an automobile to which my invention is particularly, though not exclusively adapted.

In the particular embodiment of my invention illustrated. in the drawings, M is a reservoir for the reception of water or other liquid to be vaporized. This reservoir, which constitutes what may be called the source of liquid supply for the system, is provided with a normally closed filling nozzle m, thropgh which it may be initially filled,'and it'is provided also with a pre.

' sure supply fitting m", to which, for c.\-

ample, the end of an air pump hose may be connected, to enable an initial air pressure to be established within the reservoir when necessary for the starting of the apparatus.

The reservoir is also provided with a safety Valve, typified at m", for the relief of excess pressures.

From a point near the bottom or the res ervoir, M, a pipe, A, leads to a generator,

. B. This generator may be of any suitable or desired type 01' construction, buttor convenience, and also because I prefer it, I have 'illustrated a. generator which comprises a series of superimposed and preferably on Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 13, 1903.

Patented July 16, 1912. Serial No. 169,331.

cular coils of pipe, so connected that the liquid entering preferably at the top, shall pass successively through the several coils and issue as superheated. steam from the lowermost of the coils. As here shown, the outermost portion of each coil is connected by a pipe, C, with the center of the coil next below, the outermost portion or convolution of the lowest coil being connected by a suitable pipe D, with the motor or other translating device, such as the engine, 7 of. a motor vehicle, a, Fig. 2, said pipe I) being fitted with a usual throttle. typified at T, by which to control the supply of steam from the genera tor to the engine. As here shown,

the several coils, B, are bent downwardly at either side of an imagmary-diametral line, whereby the convolut ons at citheir side of thelmc of bend are carried into lower planes than the portions thereof along t-he liuc o't' bend, thereby to produce so many traps. so to speak, which prevent the water gravitating from the inlet end to the outlet end of the generator. This same'resu'lt, however, except as to degree, may be produced by other trap constructions. 4

The generator may be incloscd within a suitable jacket, G, and heated in suitable manner, as by a hydrocarbon burner, I.

As here shown, the couplings, C in the connections O between some of the coils B,

'are made as T-fittings, for instance. those in the connections between the second and tl11rd.io1u:th and fifth. sixth and seventh, and eighth and ninth from the top, and from these T-tittings return connection is made' with the reservoir. M. This may conveniently be obtained by joining to these T-littings C return pipes (1 which are connected with a common stand-pipc, (1?. which in turn has its outlet through a return pipe C, which may enter the reservoir, M, through its bottom and rise within the said reservoir, to a level preferably somewhatabovc thatj of the inlet end of the pipe-A. Each of the return pipes. C may be providcd with a valve. (7 by which conveniently to open and close communi ation through the several pipes, and both the main generator supply pipe A and the return pipe C" are provided with check valves, 0, 0. The valve 0 in the generator supply pipe A, opens in the direction of the generator. as indicated, to permit flow through the said supply pipe only in the direction at each opening away of the arrow thereon, the return pipe C opens in the opposite direction, as indicated, to permit return flow in the direction of the arrow thereon to the reservoir. Check valves may also be placed in each of the return pipes C as indicated frdm the generator, thus to control each return pipe separately and in addition to the hand valve placed therein. A I

- The-operation of the apparatus is as follows :-It. is assumed that the generator coils B are empty and the throttle valve T closed, andin this condition, water is introduced into the reservoir M and until the said reservoir is nearly filled, when a pressure is created thereon by pumping air into the reservoir through the fitting m, which pressure forces the water from the reservoir through the pipe A. into and filling the several coils of the generator B. Now,

"pressure in the this general type that if the with one of the valves C open, the burner F is lighted and thewater contained in the coils B becomes heated and steam is generated, much of'the water being forced back into the reservoir through the open valve 0 and past the check valve in the same return pipe therewith and also past the check valve 0, which restores or 'ncreases the initial valve may, now be opened and steam drawn from the generator for use as required.

It has been found upon useof systems of generating capacity of the system as a whole be greater than the maximum demand thereupon by the motor .or engine supplied thereby, there .is returned to the reservoir M vapor under originally pressure which is assumed to be a fixed water gas produced in the process of vaporization within the generator B. This gas,whatto be-non-condens- 'tests of the apparatus show that so long as the apparatus is operated, and notwithstanding the water supply within the reservoir M be constantly reduced, the pressure within the reservoir created by the air is not only maintained, but if the capacity of the generator be sufficient, may be steadily ining; in any event,

creased until the limit fixed by the safety valve is reached. Attempts have been made to return this pressure creating gas from the generator to the reservoir through the main supply pipe relied upon to supply the generator with water from the reservoir, but this arrangement isopen to a serious objection. For example, it involves either the simultaneou passage through the saidsupply pipe or conduit of the liquid water flowing to the generator and the pressure creatto start the apparatus.

reservoir M. The throttle while the check 0" in l posite direction; neither of which is conducive to the most successfuloperation of the apparatus. By. my invention, however, all ditticulties attendant upon such an arrangement are obviated, for the main supply pipe, A, is utilized solely and always to supply the generator with water from the reservoir, while the pressure creating gas generated within the coils B, may return to the reservoir through any one or -all of the return pipes C without interfering in any wise with the continuous flow of water through the supply pipeA, to the generator. By providing a plurality of return connections, G, between the generator, whatever he the type, and the reservoir, M, this return gas may be tapped ofi at whatever point between the inlet and outlet of the generator is found for the time being or under the particular conditions obtaining, to produce the best results. Under ordinary conditions, the topmost connections C, will alone be suflicient, but if found insufiieient, any of the other return pipes may be used to obtain the gas generated 'within a larger number of coils or throughout a larger portion of the gen erator, according to the demand therefor, or any two or more or all of the said return connections may be used simultaneously, the arrangement illustrated providing great flexibility in this respect.

.VVhile I have shown but four return connections between the generator and reservoir, obviously a larger or smaller number maybe employed, connected in any desired manner with any desired number of points in the travel of liquid through the generator.

In the event that the capacity of the generator B does not exceed the maximum demand thereupon by the motor the gas or vapor to be returned to the reservoir for maintaining fehding pressure therein, may be obtained by occasionally closing the throttle and permitting the gas fora short time generated under the heat of the burner to accumulate in the reservoir and having once accumulated, the throttle may again be opened and the entire capacity of the generator utilized in the motor.

By reason of the quantity of water maintained in the reservoir constantly under pressure ready for instant use in the generator,

ing gas returning in an opposite direction to the reservoir. or else the rapid alternation wlthm the supply plpe or conduit of water 5 gas in the opflowing in one direction and the reserve capacity of a firetube boiler with lhe'instant steam producing capacity of the flash boiler is obtained.

While the reservoir M may conveniently be made of sutticicnt capacity to supply the apparatus for a considerable time without refilling. for instance. it may be conveniently such as to carry an automobile four or five miles without refilling. yet it is desi provide means for supplying the said reserable to voir according to the steam demand upon In the present instance.

the apparatus.

provided a supply pipe, 5,

therefore, I have and scope.

be regulated automatically in any desired n'ranner, according to the requirements of the apparatus, I having herein provided for the purpose a bypass '5', controlled, for instance, by a float device, a, responsive to variations in level of Water in the reservoir. When this water level reaches a predeten mined point, the float device will respond and open the by-pass to prevent or check the delivery from the pump to the reservoir, and when the water level has fallen sutliciently,

the float device responding will close the bypass more or to renew the deliveryto the IBSBI'YDII.

My invention is not limited to the particu-' lar construction and arrangement here shown and described by way of illustration, but obviously is susceptible of various cmboduncnts without departing from its spirit Claims: I

1. A vapor gem-rating system comprising a reservoir for liquid, a1 vapor generator conqposetl'tn. coils connected in series and n'iea'ns to heat the same, and conduits extendingbetu'ecn av l')l"'l't lll'y of said coils and the return conduit to said reservoir.

2. A vapor generating system comprising a sourcemt liquid :aipply, generating means comprising coils connected in series, and mea ns prcsenting a plurality of paths for the flow of fluid from said gv ,m-ating means to said source whereby auttm'lat ically to supply the latter with feeding pressure p from, and generated by, the former.

3. A va )or encrat'in system (Uill n'lsine" a source of liquid supply, generating means, incans betacu the source and generating means for supplying liquid from the former to the latter, a ')lurality of conduits between said generating means and said source, and means to maintain a llow always in one direction from the generating means toward the supply source in each of the said conduits.

4. A vapor generating system comprising a source of liquid supply, generating means, means between the source and ;enerating means for supplying liquid from the former to the latter, a plurality of conduits between said generating means and sai l source, means to detcrn'iine at will as occasion requires the particular conduit or ctaduits utilized, and means to maintain a flow always in one direction irom the generating means toward the supply source ineach of said conduits.

A vapor generating system comprising a source of liquid supply under initial pressure, generating means comprising 'a plurality of connected generating coils, and connections between a plurality of said coils and said source whereby said liquid supply is placed under pressure from said generating means.

6. A vapor generating system comprising a source of liquid supply, generating means comprising a plurality of connected generating coils con:-;tructed and arranged to present between the inlet and outlet of said generator one. or more traps, and connecting means between said generator and source for automatically supplying the latter with feeding pressure from and generated by the form-er. i

7. A. vapor generating system comprising a source of liquid supply, generating means supplied therefrom and connected therewith in a manner to maintain automatically upon the said source a feeding pressure produced by said generator and mains controlled by the volume of liquid at; said sotirce automatically to renew said source.

8. source of liquid supply, gene 'ating means supplied therefrom and connected therewith in such a numner as to maintain automatically at said source .tcedlng pressure produced by said generator, a motor supplied from said generator, and means operated by said motor and cont rolledby the quantity of liquid at said source to renew said source, as required.

9. In a motor vehicle a. source of liquid supply, generating means supplied therefrom and connected therewith to. maintain aultmatically feeding pressure at said source produced by said generator, a vehicle propolling motor supplied from said generator, a liquid tank, and l'neans operated by said. motor and controlled by the quantity of liquid at said source to renew the latter as rerpiired.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscnibing witnesses.

" GEORG E F. WHITNEY.

i Vitnosses:

/ I nnnrmmc L. EMICRY,

ANNIE F. (liinsnnr. 

